Ugh. I'd still been forcing myself along on The Unloved. Why is it The Unloved? I've tried really hard to figure that one out (so as to avoid this situation in the future!). I'm all for learning from your mistakes so you don't have to keep repeating them.
The yarn? Nope, it is a beautiful silk. Slips through my fingers like butter. Now, the color... not the one I really wanted. But, let's face it, pale yellow does NOT look all that great on fair folk.
The lace (even on the purl side)? Nope, I love knitting lace. Keeps my focus WAY better than simple knits, which I continually have to "fix" because I've strayed off path.
So, what gives? I've had advice from putting it aside to just plain frogging (for you non-knitters, that's just unraveling the whole thing). But, I HATE starting things and not finishing them. And, really, it's looking pretty good. Still, it is like W.O.R.K. for me to get anything done on this one.
Enter: Entrelac Class at our LYS.
Perfect excuse for putting The Unloved aside for awhile. After all, the class started on Friday; I had to START mine then, too. Right? It is a class, not a cop out. Right?
Well, you might fall for that if you didn't know:
1) I've done entrelac before.
2) I'm not using the class pattern.
3) How STUCK I've been on The Unloved.
All I'll say is that the frustrations and disappointments of my busy past two weeks began to f.a.l.l. a.w.a.y. Friday afternoon as the little squares of Noro emerged from my knitting needles. Each stitch soothed my soul and the world righted itself in the simple repetitive motion.
I think I understand why I have had issues with The Unloved. You see the pattern for the entrelac? It is a shawl. Next, you'll see the beautiful silk is trying to become a bolero.
Apparently, it is not just the knitting process that I love; it is the object I am creating. The deal seems to be: I JUST LIKE DOING SHAWLS. I have hardly ever worn a sweater I've made. I just don't. But, my shawls... they are part of my everyday life. They wrap me in beautiful color and texture and make me smile...
And, they soothe that part of my heart that misses... The Little Man.
He turns four today. It hardly seems anytime since I drove 16 hours... just to welcome him into our lives... and hold him in my arms. Oh, I love this child. Happy Birthday, Little Man. Your Noni loves you and your Little Brother to the moon and back... bigger than the sky and all the stars...
"Between grief and nothing I will take grief." William Faulkner, 1949
Hoping you solve a little mystery in your own life today... blessings ~ tanna
35 comments:
Tanna
I think it is noble that you keep knitting something you don't love. It is a chore. My heart feels your pain. Lol!
Happy bday to your little man!!!!
Can you frog That bolero enough to make a shawl using the lace pattern...it looks like the back is straight enough that it might work. Maybe it was the lace pattern that attracted you the the pattern in the first place?
I can sure relate to the "distant grandchild syndrome"! Kids definitely are an indicator of the passage of time, aren't they? And it's hard to miss the birthday celebrations.
Me Too!
Hugs, Dottie
Happy birthday to Little Man! He is just beautiful like his Noni :) Good luck on the project - I love the yarn and the color. Happy Monday!
Is there a way to take the pattern from "the unloved" and make it into a shawl? Maybe a simple triangle shaw with the lace pattern, or a rectangle? The yarn is just yummy and I love the lace pattern, too...but the sweater...I don't think I'd want to knit that either. I'd send Jo over to help with the knitting MoJo, but he's left town again.
Aww Little Man is so cute. Happy B-day to the cute little fellow.
Blessings to you always dear friend.
Tanna, I so understand your hesitancy with The Unloved. I feel that way a lot, but it is often with lace. You see I get so frustrated counting all the time, sometimes I just want to knit and knit and knit. I am loving the shawl you made that I am now making, and loving it a lot more than the African Flower baby blanket I should be making. I tend to vary on which project is a bit unloved and for me right now it is that blanket.
Hugs to you and I wanted to add you painting is amazing, you are so talents. Happy Birthday to your little guy.
Meredith
awww. happy birthday to your little man that is a bit too far away...
happy birthday precious little man!!!
I think in honor of his four years, you should frog the 'bolero' and turn it into a shawl....or he'll be 8 and you'll still be wondering why it is still the unloved!
I thought it was a shawl all along.....i must have missed the cast on. It will be an absolutely gorgeous shawl!!!
I'm such a novice...I don't even understand "Knit talk". I can't imagine you messing up anything!
I've never seen anything you've done I haven't loved.
Happy birthday little man!! Tanna, the "Unloved" does look beautiful, but obviously not want you to be doing right now. Set it aside for "wintertime" always my excuse, and find something more exciting. ;)
I agree with the others, rip it out and make the lace into a shawl pattern ONLY IF you really love that lace! I know how disappointing it is to knit something only to find out in the end you are not happy w/it. I can't wait to see that Enterlac pattern finished! You are so tempting me to find a pattern and practice it! Right now with the heat I'm not into knitting. The Little Man is just too precious.
When I look at how much work you've put into the "unloved" I can understand your reluctance to frog it...BUT, I've persisted with so many sewing projects in the past, that were laborious right from the beginning and then never wore them when I finally finished. I just couldn't stand the sight of them by then and they hung in my closet until I could finally let them go without too much guilt! Life is too short Tanna!!
Happy 4th birthday to your BIG little man. He's just too cute!! It's hard to believe four years have gone by...I just started reading your blog around the time he was born.
Happy Birthday to your handsome guy...boy time sure flies...I love your knitting projects always so pretty..
Enterlac is like magic....I don't ever want to know how it is done.
If you frog the Unloved and just walk away, you might experience new found freedom...or it might drive you right over the edge! Never know til you try. :-)
LIttle Man looks so grown up...will he go off to pre-k school this fall?
Be brave! Love, d.
I don't even know how you keep going with The Unloved. I am just not wired to force myself to work on something that feels like agony. I always have admired your tenacity. ;-) Missing you in our birthday celebrations today, and am counting down our days until the beach!! xoxo We LOVE YOU BIG!
PS - LM stayed on that trampoline until after 9p last night. And Roo rallied himself up around 8:15p and had more fun on that thing than he had all day. Go figure. A little ibuprofen goes a long way, apparently. LOL!
Oh my goodness - two things. I am in love with that color of aqua. I am totally in love. And Little Man is sure growing up - I noticed it from watching him grow up. He is a little boy now. sandie
Happy Birthday to your Little Man! He is a real doll and I know you wish you could just pick him up and give him a big hug and cover his cheeks with Noni kisses! Even if he is a big 4!
Love the colors in your knitting projects!
I think you might actually have hit on the reason. (Actually, when I think of you, I ALWAYS think shawl.)
I am not a bolero person either. I like shawls, not that I have that many.
So here's a thought that I'm sure isn't creative but I will say it anyway. Why don't you find someone who loves boleros the way you do shawls and either make it for them or... and here's what I think is better... give it to them as is for them to finish up?
You know how I'm always thinkin'...
how refreshing that you dove deep down into your knitting psyche and discovered the why! So sorry but I think you should frog the unloved. Seriously.
Scrolling through your beautiful handy work and POW! There he was, so cute, picture perfect in the tree. Is he really 4?
I know, you know, how I feel, about grandchild!! Yes, we love them to the Moon and back!
I used to "push through" a project no matter what but these days my attitude is a little different. Life is too short, I say. Do what brings you joy! Your little man is a real cutie.
I'm that way with painting. Once I start it, I have to finish it. I won't even start something else. Knitting, not so much. I've been knitting the same cowl for several months.
I don't think I could keep working on something that I didn't love or that was causing me frustration. You should enjoy the process. I say if you feel that strongly about it, then happily frog away. Otherwise, it might just sit in time out for a very long time. Entralac is so beautiful -- sure looks difficult. I know it can be done in crochet, too, but have never given it a go. I tend to stick with easy projects I know I can master and finish quickly. :) Best wishes to you, Tammy
Dear Tanna, Not every task is as much fun as we think it will be. I understand that with all my heart. Though this will probably turn out to be a very much loved piece of work when you finish it. It will hold a place in your heart, it is like the child that needs more attention.
A very happy and blessed birthday to that darling "little man". Blessings dearest and hugs, Catherine xo
Happy Birthday, Little Man! I also can hardly believe you are already four.
Love,
Marie
Your little man is four already? Oh my goodness...I am flying out to see our little man tomorrow..so excited.
Sweet picture of your little man! Hard to believe he is 4..
As a non-knitter, I'm not too good with the knitting lingo. What I am good at though, is recognizing something that is gorgeous....and your piece...my friend....is beautiful....
Your Entrelac shawl is amazing...I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
Happy birthday to that adorable pink cheeked boy
Hi Tanna, Thank you so much for coming by and commenting on my Trifle.
Your work is beautiful, and your post was so beautifully well written.
I do not know how to knit but on occasion I like to crochet...my mother taught me. I admit though, I am not the best...I only know the basic stitch. I love the color of the materials too.
Oh, and Happy Belated Birthday to your Little Man. He's so sweet and beautiful.
Toodles,
Tammy<3
Well Tanna! If THIS is not chock FULL of wisdom/insight and SELF analyzing! OH MY! What a wonderful post...I think I should spend a little more time thinking about WHY I avoid certain things as well!
Happy Birthday to the handsome Little Man! FOUR! Oh my!
Hard to believe that Little Man is already four and so handsome at that! I know how much you miss him and his little brother.
I think your sweater is absolutely gorgeous but I understand about continuing the process when something has become a great big chore! You amaze me with your talent!
Blessings,
Dianne
Hi, I've just popped over from Mereknits and so enjoy your sense of humour and what you're making that I have had to follow you so I can find out more!! It took me a while to discover what the Unloved was.....bit slow on the uptake first thing in the morning but now my brain is in gear and I'm loving the other posts I've read! I too, love making shawls...though I've never tried lace patterns. Like you I rarely wear any other garments I knit....in fact I'm rushing to finish a knitted long waistcoat so I can start on a new shawl!! Ah well.... . Look forward to getting to know you better. Joan
After seeing your entrellac shawl at the shop I am still dreaming about that yarn! It's like chocolate cake...hard to resist. And the entrellac is the perfect companion for it. It works so well together Tanna. Easy to see how it soothes your soul. Hugs, Jen
I am not a knitter, but I can relate to this post. Happy Birthday to Little Man...I pray you see him soon.
Have fun at your class
Tanna- your unloved project is truly beautiful in my eyes-- I do hope that you will finish it--- it's amazing.
Ohh the entrelac is gorgeous - I'd love to be able to do that project-- you are such a talented knitter!
Vicki
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